Our friendly team at W F Groombridge Funeral Directors are here to help you at this very difficult time. We have created a step-by-step guide for you, full of useful information to help you plan a funeral, supported by a selection of handy brochures which are available to download.

You can also speak to us, either by phone or in person, or you can call our Bereavement Advice line on 0808 164 2239 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm).

There are a number of things you need to do after someone dies, from registering a death with the Registrar at your local registration office to understand what documents and certificates are required, including the Death Certificate, as well as the Certificate for Burial or Cremation and the Certificate of Registration of Death. You also need to let people know, including friends, relatives, Government organisations and service providers, including banks and building societies, as well as solicitors who will have information about the will and probate.

W F Groombridge Funeral Directors have lots of experience in creating an extremely personal funeral to remember your loved one and celebrate their unique qualities. There may already be a funeral plan in place to cover costs but, if not, we provide our fees upfront to help you make the most suitable choices when arranging a funeral.

The first thing to consider is what type of burial or cremation you would you like, whether you wish to visit the Chapel of Rest, what you should include in the funeral ceremony, including music, songs, hymns and poems, and what happens after the ceremony. We also have an online tribute service, so friends and family can record their memories and make donations to any chosen charity.

Once the funeral is over, you may wish to consider arranging a lasting memorial or acknowledging people for the support you have received, plus if your loved one is being cremated, you will need to make arrangements for the cremated remains. We are also here to help and support you, should you ever need further advice, plus we like to keep in touch through our regular local community and charity events and memorial services.

If you would like our help and support at any time, please don’t hesitate to contact us.